HICKLING Francis Charles

Francis Hickling was the son of Francis and Winifred Hickling of North Malvern, Worcestershire. After passing his 11 plus exam at North Malvern Primary School, he attended Worcester Royal Grammar School from 1933 to 1938. He played in goal for the West Malvern Junior Team in the Malvern League, was a scout with the 2nd Malvern group and was a member of Holy Trinity Church Choir. After leaving school he worked as a clerk for Worcestershire County Council in the Highways and Bridges Department before volunteering for the RAF when he was 18.

He trained as a navigator in the USA and Rhodesia and went on to complete one tour of duty. Shortly before he was due to complete his second tour, he took part in a raid to Brunswick on the night of 14th/15th January 1944. The raid was a failure with very few bombs finding their target and the loss of 38 aircraft from a group of nearly 500. Francis Hickling’s Lancaster had completed its mission and was on the return journey when it was hit by flak and set alight. The pilot gave the order to bale out, three of the crew managed to do so before the aircraft exploded throwing the pilot and flight engineer clear and killing the remaining two crew, one of whom was Francis Hickling. They were buried together at Kollenbach, near Detmold, before being moved to the British War Cemetery at Hanover after the war. The five surviving crew members from the Lancaster were made prisoners of war.

Source for additional information: In Dedication to a Future World By Mark Rogers, 1999.

The birth of Francis C. Hickling is registered in the September Quarter 1922 under the Upton Registration District, mother’s maiden name Phillips.

A letter from the Reverend J.R. Bamber, Holy Trinity Vicarage, Malvern, dated 1st May 1950 can be found within war records held at Worcestershire Archives requesting that F.C. Hickling be added to the county roll of honour.

A letter from the Minnie Browers of Brabourne, 39 Frederick Rd, Malvern Link, dated 22nd May 1950 can be found within war records held at Worcestershire Archives requesting that Frank Hickling be added to the county roll of honour.  The letter lists Frank Hickling as a casualty from St Mathias Parish, Malvern Link.